Bracing For The Shock

It is only a matter of days now before I return to Calgary, and I am starting to get some excitement mixed in with the general sense of dread I've had about the trip. For all my years of travel, I have learnt how to manage culture shock when I arrive somewhere new. But I have never learnt how to manage the culture shock of returning to Calgary. And this time is set to be especially intense!

In Melbourne, I am surrounded by incredibly intelligent, open minded, progressive people who are constantly challenging each other to grow, both as researchers and as individual people. A sizable minority of the people I know are either (or both) queer or vegetarian. Going out for food and coffee I am presented with a plethora of amazing options. There are interesting museums and plenty of cultural events going on all the time so there's never a reason to be bored. Plus, the shopping is indescribably amazing. My experience of Melbourne is not at all representative of the city itself, I know. But my experience of Melbourne is basically that it is my own personal paradise on earth.

In Calgary, I have not found people to be particularly supportive or open minded or progressive. The culture in Calgary is based around commerce, which I find disgusting. What I feel about Calgary I feel strongly and I'm not going to hold my feelings back. I find the people in Calgary challenging in their refusal to change. The queer culture in Calgary seems to mostly be there because they haven't yet found a way to be elsewhere, and as a vegetarian, you can't walk into any restaurant and be garuanteed to have options to choose from on the menu. My experience of Calgary is not at all representative of the city itself, I know. But my experience of Calgary is basically that it is my own personal hell on earth.

I am very much looking forward to seeing friends and family and pets. And I know the experience of coming back will probably not be as bad as it gets played out in my head...my expectations are, as I'm sure you've gathered, low. I also know that I would regret it if I didn't come back when I had the chance, which is why I will actually be getting on that plane on Saturday.

I'm not interested in having the same experiences that I've had living in Calgary before. I don't know what has changed with people in Calgary, but I know what has changed in me. And soon, Calgary will know too.